Tag up / Timing

[KMart]

Runners on 1st and 3rd, 1 out. Fly ball to center field. Center fielder catches it. Runner on first doesn’t tag up while runner on 3rd does. Center fielder throws to first in time to force out the runner that didn’t tag but the runner from 3rd touched home plate before the out at first. Does the run count?

[Coach Carl]

The out at first is not a force out, so the run counts.  A force occurs as a result of the batter becoming a runner.  R1 was forced to 2B until the ball was caught.  After the catch, he is no longer forced to 2B (or back to 1B).  He is, however, liable to be out on appeal for leaving the base before the fly ball was caught.  So, the throw back to first is an appeal for leaving early (they could also tag him).  Since the rules allow him to correct his error before the appeal, you get the action of the runner trying to beat the throw to the base.  That looks similar to a force play, but is not.

[Velho]

2 hours ago, Coach Carl said:

A force occurs as a result of the batter becoming a runner. 

To add to @Coach Carl's great response: Forced is a state of being for a runner and not exclusive to how they can be put out. A Forced runner that is tagged is still a force out such that, if that's the third out no run can score on that play.

Even though the appeal for not retouching after catching a batted ball in flight can be done by tagging the base, it's not a force play (though easy to understand the misconception). It's a time play.

[jimurrayalterego]

1 hour ago, Velho said:

To add to @Coach Carl's great response: Forced is a state of being for a runner and not exclusive to how they can be put out. A Forced runner that is tagged is still a force out such that, if that's the third out no run can score on that play.

Even though the appeal for not retouching after catching a batted ball in flight can be done by tagging the base, it's not a force play (though east to understand the misconception). It's a time play.

KMart, stop reading here. I'm being pedantic. In OBR a forced runner is out if he is tagged before he reaches a base. An appealed runner is out if he doesn't reach the base before he or it is tagged. The one case in OBR where tie doesn't go to runner.